Learning The Arts of Manliness - Part 1: Shaving

Chances are, your Grandpa was/is way more bad ass than you or your Father. He probably went to war and killed a ton of tangos, got loads of fine trim, and drank most men under the table. He sort of resembled what was the present day version of James Bond, but would have mopped his worthless carcass all over the street in a CQB scenario if challenged. Grandpa is basically the Operator you never could be.

Chances are, your Father was/is way more bad ass than you. He probably burned his draft card, got loads of fine trim, played in bands, did a ton of drugs and partied harder than any present day frat boy could even wish to come near. And if confronted by a present day frat boy, would out party him, lower his "status" 3 or 4 ranks to scum not using speech, steal frat boys girl, and become legends of the campus just because he can. Dad is basically the Rebel you never could be.

So what could these two men have that you probably don't. Well Ill give you a hint. Its related to shaving. Yeah, that is right. Your Grandfather, and Father probably shaved like men when they learned. They cut the piss out of themselves and learned how to shave properly by using archaic tools. And they appreciated it. Essentially men today have become all too familiar with the disposable razor, and lame canned gels and shaving cream's. You are the first generation to abandon one of probably the most important arts known to the almighty Alpha. You have been shaving wrong this whole damn time.

"Click for expanded image"

Are you still with me? Well since you read this far, clearly this sounds familiar. You go to the store buy a pack of cartridges for your Mach 3. Then you go and find a can of shaving gel/cream that probably has pictures of Master Chief or Steven Segal on it, and you paid way too much for both because you are used to the common convenient ways and are uneducated. Not because you are Beta necessarily, but because you simply do not know that shaving is an Art and isn't supposed to be taken for granted. Stop being ignorant. Now you have no excuses.

"What do I do if I have to stop buying razors at my local big box stores TSB? How will I shave?" Easy there padewan, I got the solution and its super easy.

Believe it or not, there is a whole world that still believes that wet shaving is the best way to shave.  Wet shaving is most commonly done with a straight razor or a single, or double edge razor blade. For the bulk of this I will refer to double edge or DE as the method of choice, because lets face it. The straight razor isn't the way to go if you are starting out on this adventure.

Besides this Alpha - Beta junk why should you switch? Ill list a few reasons here:

• It is cheaper. Without a doubt, it will save you money in the long run.

• Very consistent, high quality shaves. (After you learn the ways of the elders)

• Environmentally friendly. 

•  Teddy Roosevelt. He was shot mid speech and finished it with a gaping, bloody, untreated, sucking chest wound. He shaved this way. 

Its cheaper. A pack of 10 blades will run you about $1.70. Suck on that modern day cartridges! And each blade (if DE is the choice) can last for 2 shaves effectively. The shaves are consistent once the skills are acquired. They will be closer, and last longer than the common day multi-blade counterparts. Smooth as a baby butt smooth is what you will be. Its environmentally better because landfills are full of plastic disposable razors. With DE shaving you only throw away the blade. There is no cans going into the trash for the shaving soap or cream either. The blades can be recycled, and the creams produce no trash.

Now you want to save your hard earned clams, protect mother nature, and get consistent baby butt smooth shaves. But what do I need to start out? Its not expensive to get started with either. The high-end of the finest shaving kits run $800+. Your kit will not even come remotely close to this. Lets try, oh about $20 initially, or less.  Even if you try it and you decide to go back to your earth polluting, money wasting, ingrown hair creating ways, you will not be out much. Choosing to go back to disposable razors may also reduce your chance to meet the woman of your dreams. Beta patches will go back on immediately.

"John sat next to the water cooler, and sulked in the beta after his demotion."

You will need to choose:

• A razor
• Blade
• Shaving Cream or Soap
• Mug or Scuttle
• After shave, or Lotion
• Styptic pencil

Razors can be had on the cheap or free even. Ask your Father or Grandfather if they still have theirs. Heirloom stuff can be cleaned and used again. Nothing is more nostalgic than an Alpha passing down a tool for the next generation to grow and learn with. You can also go to the antique shops and local junk stores and find functional pieces to use. They are cheap running from $4 - $10 easily new and used. Make sure they take modern DE blades too. Blades on the other hand, are available most places like Walmart, CVS, Walgreens and other merchants. They are all cheap and easy to get a hold of usually. Utilize online sources like Ebay to find all of these items you cannot find locally. Creams and or soaps are fairly easy to get too. The pucks can be had at the same places as the blades. Look for them good. Chances are you never noticed they were there in the first place. They are cheap too. Under $2.00 and will last much longer than the canned counterparts. Mugs and scuttles are another thing. You do not NEED a scuttle or expensive mug. Use a mug such as one for coffee and as long as it holds your puck in place, it will work. No expensive things needed here for a beginner. After shave isn't necessary but I recommend a lotion post shave to smooth, hydrate and even train your skin to the new experience. Styptic pencils can be used also to stop bleeding from nicks and cuts. It helps a lot for the beginners. You will get cut up a little bit. It happens to all of us at one point or another.

Walmart still sells Van Der Hagen kits with a mug, brush, and a puck for under $10. Boar hair brushes are cheap but they soften up a bit after using, and the kit comes with one of fair quality. Its perfect for the beginner. Van Der Hagen is pretty good stuff. It would be worth a look I think. I personally have a stockpile of the VDH soap pucks. It is very easy to work with, and forgiving on the lathering retarded. It also has a very faint scent that is nice too. (Typically, I dont care for fragrance in hygiene items, my natural smells attract the finest of women from yonder.)

Now that you got the tools, how do you go about learning how to shave? Well the simple answer is watching videos and tutorials or going ape on your face with none of the homework. I advise you all to research it first. The first couple of times you shave, you may get nicks and cuts. Big deal. You learn from your mistakes, and next time you do things differently. Watching videos will help clean that bloody curve up. The video below illustrates most of the important things to note to save your hide.

There is a ton more to this than just shaving, and I wont get into it too much here as this is an intro to possibly a mult-part installment for the TSB. Invest a small amount of research and time into finding a kit that fits what you can afford. After doing it a short time, you will soon find out that it is a luxury not a chore. It is meant to be a ritual for us. Its time for us to reflect and relax. Unless you have the option to have a beard all year, you fall into this category and can try it out and you should. Make your Grandpa, and Fathers proud. Learn the ways and hope one day to show your own Son how to shave this same way. Pass it down to the next generation. And if you do not do it for this reason, do it because Teddy Roosevelt did.


A great place to start research about this area is the Art of Manliness website. It has many links to place to get started on this endeavor.


- TSB

Works Cited/Places of interest

Art of Manliness Official Website - Bookmark this page
http://www.artofmanliness.com/

Teddy Roosevelt - Short read on the Alpha himself
http://www.cracked.com/article_15895_the-5-most-badass-presidents-all-time_p5.html

Classic Shaving Supply
http://www.classicshaving.com/Home.html

Ebay
http://www.ebay.com

Alpha's and Beta's - The Confinuing Battle

A few nights ago I had the chance to see a documentary called "Mansome" (2012) which was directed by Morgan Spurlock, the dude everyone watched gorge on McDonalds until he threw up. This film touched on a few different things about how men have changed over the last few decades, and how men have essentially turned into vagina's because the modern day media has destroyed the concept and identity of the true alpha. Actually, the synopsis is "A documentary that explores the question: In the age of manscaping, metrosexuals, and grooming products galore - what does it mean to be a man?" .

In short it was completely about the material things that have changed for men over time. But it failed to deliver what most of the people feel defines a manly man. It was incomplete to be short and to the point. Without understanding what is considered manly, how can one gauge what is the opposite sociologically?

One reviewer on IMDB by the name of Steve Pulaski stated, "One topic that I desperately wish the film would've centered more on is the idea of metrosexual behavior in males and how it could quickly transcend into blatant narcissism." This is a good point. This pretty much included everyone involved in the film subject wise. They were complete narcissistic prick job, fucktards. Including the very interesting beard man.

The thesis for it was just as it said, but leaves out so much about what it actually means to be a man just in general today aside from looks. As in a role model, teacher, leader, or good person in general and how iconic men live their daily lives as a true alpha male. I think it desperately needed more time spent on what defines what a real "Man" is, and not so much about how men nowadays are sniveling pussies that get their eyebrows waxed. What happened to being a man?

"No."

The film opened up my eyes and really expressed that men today are much different than men were years ago. When drinking and beating your wife and children in public were much more socially acceptable, I hardly think a man who is classified as "metrosexual" would hold up if I had a time machine and sent them to the 1930's - 1950's. Lets just guess about this scenario and say in a bare knuckle brawl between a typical man of the day and a metro male, the pampered male would probably end up crying at some point about clothes getting dirty, and the bridge of their nose being destroyed. I cannot grasp this current trend. My guess is it lies in part of natural alpha-ness. Alpha's need no reason to understand the ways of the beta just to know how to identify it, fashion a weapon, and kill it. Therefore, the mere sight of a metrosexual beta just induces rage. This is my best educated guess though. What does TSB think makes a person alpha? Well let me touch a bit on it, but from a few areas of popular interest. This is entirely different from person to person. But TSB isnt just any person. He is a man.

 "When smoking was still pretty damn cool."

Short thoughts on things that are classified as Alpha according to TSB.

I have always enjoyed writing and reviewing beer. Beer snobbery. This magical liquid has been linked to man for centuries. It is what binds society together and makes it functional and happy. Beer is not just a drink to get drunk on, but one to behold and savor. Its an art to make it and to appreciate it. I love beer. And I think beer is an alpha facet to appreciate. Along with beer a new area of understanding is whiskey for me. Both beer and hard liquors are to be things I always link to past times of the gentleman. Not talking about drunks necessarily. They are things to be taken in moderation to be classified as alpha. Things I also slip into this category are the appreciation of fine cigars and pipe tobaccos, and also the mode of which one chooses to shave. Does this make one alpha? No. Not on its own. However, these things do help define a refined man.

Its not just pastimes or a means of one relaxes I suppose. Hobbies and life skills are pretty important to a modern day alpha. I mainly think of skills that are useful and in need like automotive repair, gardening, woodworking, smithing and welding, cooking, carpenters/construction/electrical/HVAC, or any skill to be more self sufficient fit in this area. The alpha is a learning breed that never stops at one subject but is advancing in many things over the course of time. These types of things to learn and study make a person much more important in a group. They are essential to others who need it. Think of Ron Swanson from Parks and Recreation. He relies on no one else for his well being. He is a poster child for most of this already mentioned and should be a role model for future generations. Swanson is the definition of all that is alpha. He is an ideal figure to base what should be alpha male I think.

Full size available here for downloading. Print and put in your son's room for full effect.

Aside from these few short things what makes a person more alpha than beta is ultimately how he carries himself. How he promotes fairness, and honesty, and loyalty to the people he comes in contact with. How one treats others. Its about doing what is right all the time. Its about doing what is right when no one is looking. Its about being confident, and willing to fight for what is right and willing to be physical to maintain status. He is a man that is respected, a selfless leader, and entirely capable which means he is also feared among all ranked below him.

These characteristics make the difference. It literally makes all the difference. Today people are fake and counterfeit. Real people are hard to come by today, and when they are found you should hold on to them real tight. 9/10 people are people not worth keeping for the long haul I think. Men have turned into blubbering, whiny, narcissistic, useless pricks because they have devolved. Taking responsibility on ones status is solely based upon themselves. Most of the time you can do the alpha thing just by simply doing what is right. Even if it is not ideally what you would initially want to do. Being a good person leads to these other things I believe. Its harder being an alpha rather than a beta that is for sure. Its worth it. And anything worth it requires more effort.

"Beard guy seemed cool. But quickly turned out to be a douche just as much as the rest of the subjects."

This film "Mansome" is a bit of laugh but more importantly a look at where men in society have gone wrong today. It is a loosely put together film that touches on random subjects related to men and was put together in an awful manner to portray the extreme ends of male today. From a man who has a beard that runs his entire life, to a man who is addicted to fulfilling his desire to look good because of teasing in high school, it was cringe worthy most definitely more than once. They both were filled with self importance registering off the charts on the pretentious asshole scale. It should be called "The Beautiful Betas" because all of the males presented were about piss poor examples from the start. The only saving grace from this monstrosity of beta filled nonsense were the parts about Barbers. For the record, I would kick both of the aforementioned "men" in their gullets without so much as flinching if given the opportunity.

"Is that a fucking orange slice in my beer?"

Attract positive, denounce the negative. Learn to be honest. Be stern, and be fair. Be a leader and a teacher. Be a family man, and a reliable, dependable contact. Be a friend and a companion. Be feared when confronted, be a force to be reckoned with when applicable and necessary. Be a figure for other children and young men to look up to as an ideal example of what being a man encompasses.Take the wheel and direct your life in the path you want to and stop waiting for things to come your way by some cosmic force. Its time for change. Its time for boys to turn into men again. Its way overdue. This current fad trending with only physical importance and lack of character, needs to die and go away never to return again.

Check out Mansome. Its a watch atleast once film. Although this film could only rate a strong 5/10 on my scale of greatness, (and I am being generous considering the amount of beta involved) it is worth seeing to use as a tool to identify the characters to avoid in life's daily endeavors.

-TSB




Links:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294729/

http://www.artofmanliness.com/

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-an-alpha-male.htm